HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network back issues from February 1999:
NEWELL POSTS RECORD QUARTER: HOME FURNISHINGS FUELS RISE.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999; ... FREEPORT, Ill.-Newell Co. said third-quarter net sales and income reached record highs, propelled by strong performance from its home furnishings businesses. The numbers excluded charges related to the 1998 Calphalon acquisition and realignment costs. Net sales for the quarter ...
BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH BACK TO SCHOOL.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999; ... Back to school has become a number-one priority for home products retailers who find the season growing as they cross-merchandise in central off-shelf displays. In many product categories, back-to-school sales volume is second only to Christmas. The season is starting earlier ...
JUPITER: 14 PERCENT FEWER ONLINE SHOPPERS SAY THEY'RE SATISFIED AFTER HOLIDAY SEASON.
Feb 01, 1999 ... NEW YORK-While many online shoppers are happy with their 1998 holiday season experience, a Jupiter/NFO survey shows that fewer are satisfied now than just six months ago. The research, released by Jupiter Communications to its Strategic Planning Services (SPS) clients, indicates ...
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE RISES SLIGHTLY IN JANUARY.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... NEW YORK-Consumer confidence in the economy edged up slightly in January to its highest level since August, as a growing number of Americans believed there were more jobs available. But the survey of consumers released last week by the Conference Board found that while Americans ...
INTERNET SHOPPING NO OVERNIGHT SUCCESS, STUDY FINDS.
Feb 01, 1999 ... The growth of shopping via the Internet will be steady but will require a long, hard climb to widespread acceptance, according to the latest in a series of national tracking polls unveiled recently by a leading consumer research and marketing strategy firm. "The driving force of ...
BESTSELLER A BEST BET FOR THE FALL SEASON: WESTPOINT STEVENS' CLASSIC BLANKET CONTINUES TO DRIVE SALES AT RETAIL.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999; ... NEW YORK-As home textile retailers gear up to shop for this year's back-to- school season, a number of manufacturers are racing to offer new products, as well as revamp old ones. WestPoint Stevens, for one, will continue to push its successful Vellux brand blanket through to all ...
MOVING TO THE HEAD OF THE CLASS: SELLING OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND FOR RETAILERS, SUPPLIERS.
Feb 01, 1999; ... For most retailers, back to school has become the second-biggest selling season of the year, behind only the fourth quarter. But for some merchants, like The Container Store, back to school is the most important time of the year. "It's our Christmas," said an executive at the ...
CARPET AND RUG MANUFACTURERS SEIZE SCHOOL OPPORTUNITY.
Feb 01, 1999; ... NEW YORK-Back-to-school time for many students means moving into a new apartment or dorm room. Suppliers targeting this market are finding success with merchandise that is high in style, yet low in price point. In 1997, United Weavers created the Expressions Collection ...
GOING VAC TO SCHOOL.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... When students head off to college, they usually take along all they need to survive dorm life. With all the visitors who usually tramp in and out of that rather cramped space, vacuums are becoming one of the essentials. "I think there is potential for back to school, especially ...
TECHNOLOGY, ELECTRONIC MEDIA TO DRIVE SCHOOL SALES.
Feb 01, 1999 ... STAMFORD, Conn.-More funding, increased enrollments and the rise in the computer installed base will drive sales of electronic media to the school market up at a compound annual rate of 10 percent from 1999 to 2001, reaching $1.21 billion in 2001, according to Electronic Media For The ...
CALVIN KLEIN PUTS CRIMP IN CROWN CRAFTS EARNINGS.(licensing deal hurts earnings)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999; ... NEW YORK-Calvin Klein has been a big pain in the neck for Crown Crafts. The home furnishings maker reported net sales of $120.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 1999, up 16.9 percent from $103 million the previous year. But those figures failed to reflect a host of ...
FEELING THE SQUEEZE, SUPPLIERS DIG IN: NEW COMPETITIVE FORCES RESHAPE VENDOR- RETAIL EQUATION.
Feb 01, 1999; ... NEW YORK-Forget the days when manufacturers could boost prices to grow profits. Forget the days when superior quality guaranteed space on the shelves. And, forget the days of introducing new products as a growth vehicle. Those are strategies of a bygone era; and as painful as it ...
J. PETERMAN GRANTED LOAN.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... The J. Peterman Co., the upscale retailer parodied on "Seinfeld," will be allowed to operate through Feb. 12 under a $1.96 million loan from a primary creditor. Lawyers for J. Peterman sealed the deal last Tuesday, a day after filing for U.S. Bankruptcy Court protection. ...
Housewares, Builders Shows Overlap.
Feb 01, 1999 ... Hey, fellow travelers, consider this Y2K bug: Dates for next year's Housewares and Builders' Shows conflict. The International Housewares Show will run at McCormick Place in Chicago from Jan. 16 to 19 while the International Builders' Show will return to the Convention Center in ...
UPS Sees 'Huge' Impact from Online Retailing.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... United Parcel Service of America Inc. is realizing a "huge" impact from the growth of Internet sales. In the text of a speech delivered to the Economic Club of Detroit, chairman and CEO Jim Kelly said more than half UPS's business comes from customers who are connected to the ...
Springs to Convert Plant.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... Springs Industries said it will spend $20 million to convert its plant in Fort Lawn, S.C., from an apparel fabrics weaving facility to a modern home furnishings weaving plant. In January Springs sold its apparel fabrics division ...
SHOPKO CEO TO RETIRE.(Dale P. Kramer)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... Dale P. Kramer, ShopKo Stores Inc.'s chairman, president and chief executive, plans to retire as president and chief executive, effective March 12. The company said Kramer, 59, will remain non-executive chairman and ...
Bed Bath & Beyond Promotes Executives.
Feb 01, 1999 ... Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has promoted several veteran executives, who, on average, have more than 14 years of service with the company. Promoted to senior vice president were Arthur Stark, in charge of merchandising, and Matthew Fiorilli, overseeing company stores. ...
Kmart Elevates Executives.
Feb 01, 1999 ... Kmart Corp. announced executive promotions designed to strengthen the Kmart Solutions and operations departments. David Schuvie, a 29-year Kmart veteran, has been promoted to the newly created corporate officer position of vice president of electronic sales and ...
Schmatz Named Crown Crafts Chairman.
Feb 01, 1999 ... Rudy Schmatz has been named chairman of the board of Crown Crafts designer, the wholly owned subsidiary of Crown Crafts that manufactures and distributes Calvin Klein Home. It is a new post. Patsy Pollack will continue to serve as president of Clavin Klein Home, ...
RETAILERS URGED TO CHANGE.(Industry Overview)
Feb 01, 1999; ... NEW YORK-It has been said there are two types of companies: those that are changing and those that are going out of business. For home furnishings retailers, circa 1999, standing pat is a ticket to Chapter 11. That was the consensus of two senior executives from Kurt Salmon ...
AT LIGHTING MARKET, INDUSTRY ISSUES ILLUMINATED : SALES TRAINING, CONSOLIDATION AND MERCHANDISING REMAIN KEY TOPICS.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999; ... DALLAS-While the lighting and accessories market here last month was festive, it was a time for suppliers and retailers to hammer out important business issues. Retail sales education and training, consolidation among vendors and retailers, and better merchandising continue to ...
WINNIE THE POOH LAMPS AND FANS TO DEBUT.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... Sportscast Lighting, a division of Check-O-Lite International, based in Jersey City, has signed a license with Warner Bros. to produce Winnie the Pooh lamps and ceiling fans. The company, which specializes in licensed products, said that Target Stores is ...
CHEYENNE INDUSTRIES IMPORTS BISTRO SETS.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... Cheyenne Industries, based in Little Rock, Ark., has begun importing from Mexico wrought-iron bistro sets, including glass-top round tables and cushioned wrought-iron bar stools in several configurations and powder-coated finishes. The ...
MCS LAUNCHES MARKER BOARDS, VISUAL AIDS.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... MCS Industries, a full-line frame and wall-decor supplier and the leading poster-frame supplier, has entered the visual-presentation market with an extensive line of marker boards, bulletin boards, magnetic boards, chalk boards, combination boards, easels and accessories. The line features ...
FURNITURE DRESSES UP FOR TORONTO SHOW : DESIGNERS, RETAILERS, PUBLIC FLOCK TO INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW.
Feb 01, 1999; ... TORONTO-Interior design and home furnishings reached glitzy heights more befitting the world of runway fashion at The Interior Design Show, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The show marked the first major push to bring the trade and public together to present new ...
BEHIND THE GARDEN BOON.
Feb 01, 1999; ... Who doesn't like the idea of gardening? It's all about creating beauty, preserving the earth, playing, relaxing or working for a wholesome cause. It is indeed rare to find a furniture department or store without some token garden merchandise, be it bistro sets, Old World pots, a ...
O'SULLIVAN PUTS TOGETHER RECORD Q2 SALES.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... RTA heavyweight O'Sullivan Industries reported second-quarter net sales of $97.8 million, up 14.3 percent over the comparable quarter a year ago. For the first six months of 1999, net sales were $185.5 million, up 14 percent from the first half of fiscal 1998. Net income for the ...
KIMBALL POSTS SALES RECORD.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... Strong sales of office furniture and television cabinets helped push Kimball International's consolidated sales to $280.1 million for the second quarter of 1999, a new quarterly record and a 6 percent increase over the comparable period last year. Net income for the second ...
KLAUSSNER SHOWROOM GROWS.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... Klaussner Furniture has broken ground on a 35,000-square-foot showroom expansion at its facility in Asheboro, N.C. The space will feature a new entrance to the showroom building, which will divert traffic away from the main office entry. The new space probably will be devoted ...
AFMA ENVIRONMENTAL WEB SITE.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... The American Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMA) has launched a Web site devoted to environmental issues facing U.S. furniture makers. ...
MAITLAND-SMITH NAMES EXEC.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... David Yelverton has been named manager of international sales and marketing at Maitland-Smith. Yelverton previously was an ...
FRANKEL'S PROMOTES ANTHONY VICCORA.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... Frankel's Home Furnishings, a retailer based in Port Washington, N.Y., with leased home textiles and rug departments in Scotty's stores, has named Anthony Viccora vice president of real estate. He will be responsible for ...
LDP Names Director of National Accounts.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... Louis De Poortere (LDP) has named Jim Patrick to the newly created position of director of national accounts. The position will focus on increasing sales and market share by developing new ...
Springs Acquisition Complete.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... Springs Industries has completed the acquisition of Regal Rugs Inc. from Readicut International PLC. Regal Rugs, based in North Vernon, Ind., will operate as a subsidiary of Springs. The purchase ...
Thantex Holdings Acquires The Rug Barn.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... Abbeville, S.C.-based retailer The Rug Barn Inc. has been purchased by Thantex Holdings Inc., which is owned by The InterTech Group Inc. The Rug Barn will operate as a subsidiary of Thantex Holdings under general manager Ernie Ruddock. The staff will be retained with promotions ...
New Officers For ORIA.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... During the Oriental Rug Importers Association's (ORIA) annual meeting in New York, the general membership elected officers for 1999. The officials are: David Harounian of Harounian Rugs International, president; Paul Vesely of MER, vice president; Andrew Peykar of Nourison, secretary; and ...
LANE CHANGES AHEAD : ANE VENTURE, LANE UPHOLSTERY TO MERGE MERCHANDISING.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999; ... CONOVER, N.C.-Lane is streamlining its upholstery operations by merging its two upholstery divisions under the Lane Venture name. Lane Venture and Lane Upholstery will combine operations and concentrate the company's upholstery merchandising efforts on four product lines: ...
ORIA MEMBERS FUND SCHOOLS : RUG IMPORTERS SUPPORT PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR CHILD LABOR ABUSES.
Feb 01, 1999; ... ATLANTA, Ga.-The Oriental Rug Importers Association (ORIA) is meeting the challenge of eliminating child labor abuses in rug weaving regions by establishing schools where children can get a basic education. David Harounian, president of ORIA and principal of Harounian Rugs ...
BEDDING MAKES THE GRADE : EXTRA-LONG TWIN SHEETS BOOST MARKETING EFFORTS.
Feb 01, 1999; ... ATLANTA-While the back-to-school market used to be strictly a fall promotion, it now begins in June, almost immediately after schools close for summer vacation, and continues in most regions until classrooms reopen in August or September. For Springs, the industry's largest ...
WHITMOR, HPI CHANGE EXECS.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... CHICAGO and EARLE, Ark.-Whitmor and Selfix-Seymour, a division of HPI, have both recently made changes to their executive sales staffs. Greg Saul has been named vice president of sales and marketing at Whitmor. Saul has held positions with Oklahoma Bakeware, Black&Decker, ...
WHITE GOODS IN DALLAS ON THE UP AND UP.
Feb 01, 1999; ... DALLAS-The International Builders' Show is supposed to attract a more basic clientele than the Kitchen/Bath Industries Show because home construction isn't as glamorous as remodeling -- or so goes conventional thinking. Maybe somebody should tell this to the major-appliance ...
EX*TRACTS MOVES TO PIERS FOR APRIL.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999; ... NEW YORK-The fifth semiannual Ex* Tracts: A Trade Show for Aromatherapy, Home Fragrance and Personal Care will make a one-time move to the Passenger Ship Terminal Piers here this April. "This one-time change is a result of insufficient space availability at the Javits Center and ...
RIVAL POSTS SECOND QUARTER RESULTS.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... KANSAS CITY, Mo.-The Rival Co. reported results for the second quarter of fiscal 1999. In the second quarter ended Dec, 31, 1998, Rival's net earnings were $5.6 million, which reflects a $700,000 restructuring charge ($400,000 after tax), related to the previously reported ...
THE MAKING OF A PRODUCT: CORNINGWARE MICROWAVE COOK-A-MEAL.
Feb 01, 1999; ... Corning Consumer Products has set out to stoke a market ripe with opportunity -- microwave cooking -- with its new Corningware Microwave Cook-A-Meal line. The line this month will reach department- and specialty-store shelves. At the same time, it will be supported via a $4 ...
TOASTING OUT THE CENTURY, SUVIVING THE NEXT.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999; ... With a year to go to the millennium -- and the Year 2000 computer glitch -- people are making plans for both celebration and survival. Since it's hard to throw a party or exist without food, both events have created new, and certainly diverse, culinary trends. Here's what we're tracking: ...
FINGERHUT LOGS DOUBLE-DIGIT SALES GAINS IN FOURTH QUARTER.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999; ... MINNEAPOLIS-Driven by a strong holiday selling season, a focus on e-commerce, and recent acquisitions of catalogers Arizona Mail Order and Popular Club Plan, Fingerhut Companies Inc. posted double-digit revenue gains for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 25, 1998. Fingerhut, which ...
BURT WOLF EVALUATES INDUSTRY.
Feb 01, 1999 ... THE CO-AUTHOR OF THE LANDMARK 'COOKS' CATALOGUE' GEARS UP TO COMPILE AN UPDATED EDITION. Twenty five years ago Burt Wolf, Milton Glaser and James Beard compiled The Cooks' Catalogue, a tome that Time magazine called "The definitive book on cooking equipment." In it, the authors ...
TABLETOP AUCTIONS ONLINE WITH CROSSMARKET.COM.
Feb 01, 1999; ... MEDFORD, Mass.-Mining the rapidly evolving, multibillion-dollar Internet industry, CrossMarket.com, billed as the first business-to-business Web auction site devoted to giftware, will kick off. The site, which will go live in March, is designed to enable suppliers to shed small ...
PALER PALETTE PERVADES SPRING TABLETOP OFFERINGS.
Feb 01, 1999; ... NEW YORK -- Despite our love of technology, there comes a time when too much technology can fray the nerves and wear a person down. The antidote to this, according to color consultants, is achieved through color and design. In the home office, the sharp edges of computer ...
ANALYSTS' OUTLOOK: HOUSEWARES '99 : HOUSING FORMATIONS, INTERNET GROWTH MAY BOOST CATEGORY.(Review)
Feb 01, 1999; ... NEW YORK-Looking into their crystal balls to determine the tenor of 1999 for housewares retailers and manufacturers, analysts said an increase in housing formations, a deeper exploration of the Internet and vendors' adopting a more global outlook should result in new growth for the ...
CLOCKS RING WITH COLOR, RETRO APPEAL : TIMEPIECES DOUBLE AS HOME ACCENT ITEMS.
Feb 01, 1999; ... NEW YORK-The timepiece is becoming a fashion piece, as clocks move beyond function to become accent pieces that can help change or add to a room's decor. To keep pace with other home furnishings, today's hottest looks are making an impact with retro elements, bolder colors, bigger sizes ...
HONEYWELL REPORTS 4TH QUARTER AND '98 EARNINGS.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 1999 ... MINNEAPOLIS-Honeywell posted financial results for the fourth quarter and 1998 fiscal year. For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 1998, net income was $204.5 million, an increase of 14.8 percent from net income for the same period the previous year. Sales for the quarter ...
ROYAL NAMES FARONE V.P. OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.
Feb 01, 1999 ... CLEVELAND-Rick Farone has been made vice president of product development at Royal Appliance, the maker of Dirt Devil floor care products. Since 1996, Farone has been Royal's director of marketing and product development. "Rick has been instrumental in establishing Royal ...
HOOVER TARGETS A HEALTHY HOME ENVIRONMENT.
Feb 01, 1999 ... NORTH CANTON, Ohio-As Americans have become more and more health conscious, they have become more and more concerned about their own home environment. Recently, Hoover investigated how vacuum cleaners can help in creating a more human-friendly house. Hoover found that not only ...
SOME HOPEFUL SIGNS FOR FURNITURE SALES.
Feb 01, 1999; ... "My whole dining room is empty. I have two bedrooms that are empty, and it isn't because I don't have the money," lamented Cody McGarraugh, a vice president of equity research at investment bank Scott & Stringfellow. "It is just because I haven't found what I want." You would ...
BUILDING THE BRAND.
Feb 01, 1999 ... Waverly Home Stores is the pillar of a brand strategy envisioned by ...
VDTA CONVENTION PLANNED.
Feb 01, 1999; ... LAS VEGAS-The Vacuum Dealers Trade Association is planning to gather here Feb. 4 through 6 for their annual convention, with more than 140 companies expected to exhibit. The convention, which offers seminars and speakers, as well as exhibitors, is expected to draw more than ...
BRING ON THE MATTRESS BOOM: THE BETTER SLEEP COUNCIL READIES AN AGGRESSIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGN.
Feb 01, 1999; ... ALEXANDRIA, Va.-The bedding industry may be one of the most competitive marketplaces today, but it's not without its unifying elements. The Better Sleep Council (BSC), for one, has been diligently working for the past 21 years to position the mattress as more than just a ...
NEW DIRECTIONS IN WALL DECOR.
Feb 01, 1999 ... CHICAGO-Wall-decor suppliers waxed nostalgic with frames, vintage postcards and ads, and other items that evoke sentimentalism at the housewares show here last month. Other key directions in frames, framed art and mirrors seen at the show included mixed-metals, Arts & Crafts, ...
INDUSTRY STEPS OUT FOR MARKET PARTIES.
Feb 01, 1999 ... The Dallas Lighting and Accessories Market was busy, upbeat and full of festive parties ...
PERRIER SETS THE TABLE : NEW CATALOG DEBUTS THIS MONTH.
Feb 01, 1999; ... GREENWICH, Conn.-On February 10, sparkling water giant Source Perrier will debut its catalog of tabletop accessories in a new collection for the home and garden. Perrier commissioned design firm Atwood International, based in Sharon, Conn., to create The Source Perrier ...
THINKING GLOBALLY, ATKINS AIMS TO BOOST MEMBER STORES.
Feb 01, 1999; ... DALLAS-Buying cooperative Frederick Atkins is strengthening its focus on the corporate arm of its business as a way to help its member stores battle retail competition. "It becomes much more important for our stores to work together as a group," Atkins CEO and President Nancy ...
COMFORT IS KEY IN FREDERICK ATKINS OFFERINGS FOR FALL.
Feb 01, 1999; ... DALLAS-Next fall will be all about comfort. So says Michael Devine, director of color and trend for the Frederick Atkins Homestore. In kicking off the buying cooperative's Autumn 1999 collection here last week, Devine predicted the fall palette will reflect a mixing of old and ...
WHAT'S NEW IN GIFTS AND TABLETOP.
Feb 01, 1999 ... From Across the Pond Brit Paul Barcroft will demonstrate contemporary studio glassmaking in the Handmade Section of the New York International Gift Fair this week. Included in Barcroft's spring 1999 collection are these glass designs. Better Than a Scooby Snack ...